This man has a disease that causes his face to 'melt' slowly

A man's life in India was turned upside down after tumours appeared on one side of his face. Now 52 years old, half of his face appears to have melted away due to a rare genetic disease.

Neurofibromatosis 1

Also known as Von Recklinghausen disease, neurofibromatosis is a 'group of diseases in which numerous fleshy, flexible growths of nerve tissue (neurofibromas) form under the skin and in other parts of the body, and flat, light-brown-coloured patches often develop on the skin' explains the MSD Manual.

There are several types, varying in rarity, affecting various parts of the body and Govardhan Das has a case of neurofibromatosis 1. This disease is caused by a mutation in a tumour suppressor gene and affects about 1 in 4000 people. It can have more or less visible effects, but Govardhan Das' case is rather extreme.

'People make fun of me'

Indeed, his face is badly affected by the disease, so much so that he has lost his right eye and ear and his nose looks swollen and his face looks as if it has half melted. While the effects of the disease are significant, doctors have refused to operate on him because the disease is affecting his brain. He told Jam Press:

People make fun of me and give me several nicknames, even though I haven't done anything wrong to them

In addition to being disabling, the disease is painful. Govardhan Das says his skin burns when he sweats, and he has difficulty eating and speaking. But while he is the source of ridicule, he says he can count on the support of those around him:

I am not comfortable moving freely in the market because people stare at me and children are afraid of me, but my family and the villagers love and respect me.

This article was translated from Gentside FR.

Sources used:

-Manuel MSD: Neurofibromatose